Chrysanthemum plant named `White Cherie`

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named White Cherie particularly characterized by its flat capitulum flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 35 to 44 mm when fully opened, when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; very floriferous, with excellent display of many small flowers; photoperiodic flowering response of 50 to 53 days after start of short days; plant height, with 13 to 14 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings with 0 to 1 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP ranges from 20 to 28 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot; branching pattern is spreading and prolific, each plant having 7 to 9 laterals after pinch; and recommended as a spray pot mum.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred to by the cultivar name White Cherie.

White Cherie, identified as 4060 (89-114F03), is a product of a mutation induction program. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by inventor Susan M. Polys on May 21, 1993 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. as one flowering plant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from stock plants which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 1750 rads in Fort Myers, Fla. on Nov. 19, 1992. The irradiated parent cultivar was the cultivar Sweet Cherie, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,806 and described as a flat daisy spray pot mum with white ray floret color with pinking buds and pinking underside of the ray florets.

The irradiation program resulting in White Cherie had as its primary objective the expansion of color ranges of the parent cultivar Sweet Cherie. The irradiation program comprised irradiation of cuttings of the parent cultivar at irradiation levels of 1500, 1750 and 2000 rads. A total of 1553 cuttings harvested from a total of 225 irradiated plants were planted on Mar. 8, 1993. Of these, 7 initial selections were made, which selections were then revegetated and reflowered. Three consecutive flowerings resulted in discarding 6 of the original 7 selections on Jan. 24, 1994. Two codes were reselected under new code numbers prior to discarding the original selections. The remaining one selection and the two reselected codes were maintained as PIs (Possible Introductions) and further trialed in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Ontario, Canada, ultimately resulting in discarding one remaining selection on Jun. 3, 1994 and the decision to introduce one reselection as White Cherie. The one remaining reselection was ultimately discarded on May 25, 1995.

The first act of asexual reproduction of White Cherie was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in July of 1993 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by technicians working under supervision of Susan M. Polys.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successive plantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for White Cherie are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

White Cherie has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif., and in Leamington, Ontario, Canada, under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of White Cherie, which, in combination, distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. White ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 35 to 44 mm when fully opened, when grown as a pinched spray pot mum.

5. Very floriferous, with excellent display of many small flowers.

6. Photoperiodic flowering response of 50 to 53 days after start of short days.

7. Plant height, with 13 to 14 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings and with 0 to 1 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP ranges from 20 to 28 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot.

8. Branching pattern is spreading and prolific, each plant having 7 to 9 laterals after pinch.

9. Recommended as a spray pot mum.

The accompanying photographic drawing is a side view of White Cherie, grown as a spray pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot, with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to White Cherie is the parent cultivar Sweet Cherie. All traits of White Cherie are similar to those of Sweet Cherie, except for the ray floret color. The ray floret color of White Cherie is clear white, with no pinking of flower buds and underside of the ray florets, while Sweet Cherie shows severe pinking of buds and pink overcast of the underside of the ray florets.

In the following description color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined on plant material grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot in Salinas, Calif. on May 17, 1995.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv. White Cherie.

Commercial.--Flat daisy spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--35 to 44 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White.

Color (upper surface).--Closest to 155D.

Color (under surface).--Closest to 155D.

Shape.--Straight, oblong, slightly ribbed.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14A.

Color (immature).--14B, center overlaid with 144B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; moderate pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--20 to 28 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 13 to 14 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings prior to start of short days and with 0 to 1 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific, with 7 to 9 laterals after pinch.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Small, lobed, slightly serrated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named White Cherie, as described and illustrated. 